Mass-mass cell gas centrifuge

Abstract

A gas separation centrifuge is provided with a housing having a top, a bottom and a plurality of joined side walls parallel to an axis and forming a predetermined regular polygon cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axis. A rotor is mounted for coaxial rotation within the housing, including a plurality of inverted truncated pyramid plates forming the predetermined regular polygon shape at an outer periphery, and forming the predetermined regular polygon shape at an interior edge. The plurality of inverted truncated pyramid plates are stacked coaxially and are axially spaced apart to form planar channels therebetween and define an interior annular volume with openings therefrom into the planar channels. There are also openings through the outer periphery. A first plurality of stationary concentric input tubes extends into the interior annular volume. Each input tube is connectable to a source of inlet fluid and communicates with the interior annular volume at different distances along the axis terminating close to the bottom of the housing. A second plurality of stationary concentric output tubes also extends into the interior annular volume. Each output tube is connectable to a collection device and communicates with the interior annular volume at different distances along the axis close to the top of the housing. One of the plurality of input tubes is connected to a source of liquid solvent for injecting a quantity sufficient for coating the interior side walls to a thickness less than the minimum clearance distance between the exterior periphery of the rotor plates. A motor is connected for rotating the rotor at a speed sufficient to cause a maximum pressure above about 1,000 psi in the housing at the side walls. Another of the plurality of input tubes is connected to a source of a gaseous mixture. At least one of the outlet tubes has an opening at a position in the interior annular volume for withdrawing one gas of said mixture in a high state of purity.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A gas separation centrifuge comprising: a) a housing having a top, a bottom and a plurality of joined side walls parallel to an axis and forming a predetermined regular polygon cross-sectional shape perpendicular to said axis;   b) a rotor mounted for coaxial rotation within said housing, including a plurality of inverted truncated pyramid plates forming said predetermined regular polygon shape at an outer periphery and forming said predetermined regular polygon shape at an interior edge, said plurality of inverted truncated pyramid plates stacked coaxially and axially spaced apart to form planar channels therebetween and an interior annular volume with interior openings therefrom into said planar channels and exterior openings through said outer periphery;   c) a first plurality of stationary concentric input tubes extending into said interior annular volume, each input tube connectable to a source of inlet fluid and communicating with said interior annular volume at different distances along said axis toward said bottom of said housing;   d) a second plurality of stationary concentric output tubes extending into said interior annular volume, each output tube connectable to a collection device and communicating with said interior annular volume at different distances along said axis toward said top of said housing;   e) one of said plurality of input tubes connected to a source of liquid solvent for injecting a quantity sufficient for coating the interior of said side walls to a thickness less than the minimum clearance distance between said interior of said side walls and said outer periphery of said plurality of truncated pyramid plates of said rotor;   f) a motor connected for rotating the rotor at a speed sufficient to cause a maximum pressure above about 1,000 psi in the housing at the side walls;   g) another of said plurality of input tubes connected to a source of a gaseous mixture; and   h) at least one of said output tubes having an outlet opening at a position in said interior annular volume for withdrawing one gas of said mixture in a high state of purity.   
     
     
       2. A gas separation centrifuge as in claim 1 wherein said predetermined regular polygon cross-sectional shape of said housing is a regular octagon and said plurality of inverted truncated pyramid plates stacked to form said rotor are octagonally-shaped inverted truncated plates. 
     
     
       3. A gas separation centrifuge as in claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of input tubes connected to a source of liquid solvent is connected to a source of water. 
     
     
       4. A gas separation centrifuge as in claim 3 further comprising a tangential injection opening for injecting a quantity of carbon dioxide into said housing at one of said joined side walls thereof for dissolving in said water. 
     
     
       5. A gas separation centrifuge as in claim 1 wherein said rotor mounted for coaxial rotation within said housing further comprises said axially spaced apart plates spaced at a distance of about 5 mm. 
     
     
       6. A gas separation centrifuge as in claim 1 further comprising: a) said interior openings formed from said interior annular volume into said planar channels, said interior openings being disposed at an angle for scooping in the direction of rotation of said rotor;   b) vertical plates attached at the periphery of said inverted truncated pyramid plates conjoined to form said octagonally-shaped cross section for said rotor and including a forward opening ahead of each corner in the direction of rotation angled for scooping fluid into said channels between said truncated pyramid plates, and one of said exterior openings angled rearward from the direction of rotation to avoid scooping in the direction of rotation for drawing fluid from between said channels of said pyramid plates into an exterior annular volume between said periphery of said plates and said joined side walls of said housing; and   c) said joined peripheries of said plates of said rotor sized and constructed for creating a minimum clearance distance between said peripheries and said parallel side walls of said housing of about 10 mm.   
     
     
       7. A gas separation centrifuge as in claim 1 wherein: a) said first plurality of stationary concentric input tubes includes angled input opening channels at one end thereof inserted into the interior annular volume, said angled input opening channels angled rearward to avoid scooping and thereby to facilitate drawing inlet fluid into said annular volume upon rotation of said rotor; and   b) said second plurality of stationary concentric output tubes have outlet opening channels formed at a forward angle into said second plurality of stationary concentric output tubes for providing scooping of collected gas from said interior volume upon rotation of said rotor.   
     
     
       8. A gas separation centrifuge as in claim 1 wherein said rotor mounted for coaxial rotation within said housing further includes a plurality of midplate openings formed in said plurality of inverted truncated pyramid plates, said openings vertically aligned and positioned intermediate between the interior annular volume and the outer periphery extending from the bottom-most plate of said rotor to a cap plate immediately adjacent the top of the housing, the cap plate having a solid surface without intermediate midplate openings formed therein.